Bing Crosby Message Boards - Astaire Comments on Bing...

Astaire Comments on Bing...

NAME	MESSAGE
Auburn Sommer	posted 10/26/05 04:56 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly It seems like I have read comments from other stars who worked with Bing but I can't remember specifically where I read them or who may have said them. In particular, I'm looking for a comment made by Fred Astaire regarding Bing as a dancer or dance partner. And I know it's been written probably a thousand times about Bing's knack for and love of the English language. Is there a specific quote someone can direct me toward for either of these puzzling comments. (Again, specific sources would be useful as my needs pertain to school, but if you have any info at all, it would be helpful!) Auburn Sommer
Bob Handy	posted 10/26/05 08:43 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly Auburn, I'm not sure this is the Astaire comment you have in mind, but he was once asked by an interviewer who his favorite dance partner was, and he replied, "Bing Crosby." I doubt that he meant to be taken seriously. It was almost certainly his diplomatic way of avoiding offending any of his superb feminine dance partners.
Stan Walker	posted 10/27/05 06:49 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly In "The Crosby Years" by Ken Barnes there is a section on Astaire and Crosby when they did their album together. I think there were some problems between the two because Bing didn't want to rehearse and Fred wanted to, so Barnes (the producer of the album I think) had to smooth things over. I haven't read the book yet, but you might be able to find it in the libray and see if there is anything of interest to you.
Auburn Sommer	posted 10/28/05 11:21 AM Central Time (US) contact the author directly Thank you, Stan and Bob. I think I may have been thinking about that interview you mentioned where he named Bing as his favorite dancing partner. Does anyone know of a source where I can read or listen to a portion of that interview? I know he didn't necessarily mean to be taken seriously (just as Gene Kelly named Tom or Jerry (I never remember which is which) as his favorite), but it seems like he may have expounded on Bing's dancing ability for not really being a dancer. Oh! I can't remember! :-) Also, anybody have any ideas on where I can find quotes or passages regarding Bing's use of vocabulary?
Sally	posted 10/28/05 12:00 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly Here are two quotes for you: Sammy Cahn in "Bing" by Charles Thompson--"Crosby has a special quality of language; Crosby is a great letter writer; he has a flair for language and this comes out in his personality. He would never use a four syllable word if he could think of a five syllable word. Bob Hope in the foreward to "My Life with Bing" by Kathryn Crosby -- "A prodigious reader, Bing was the most articulate man I've ever met. It was an open secret that his casual conversation was far superior to the best efforts of his script writers." Hope that helps.
Ken Barnes	posted 10/28/05 01:39 PM Central Time (US) no email address given My thanks to Stan Walker for referring Auburn to my book THE CROSBY YEARS. But since Stan confesses that he has not read the book, I should point out that there was no animosity whatsoever between Bing and Fred Astaire. The only slight point of contention was that Fred wanted some extensive rehearsal time prior to the first recording session and Bing felt that things would be OK with just "15 minutes around a piano. How sweet it is !" I can tell you that I never saw two artists who were more pleased to be in each others' company. Every date on that album was more like a party than a recording session.
Lee	posted 10/28/05 02:31 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly I remember reading or hearing that Fred's style of working was to be well rehearsed and to FOLLOW THE SCRIPT. When Fred and Bing worked together recording or on Bing's Christmas TV special Fred didn't like it only because Bing would pop in with a unrehearsed line or a funny name. This would throw Fred off and keep him on his toes. But the 2 I'm sure liked and respected each other. Bing's style was just a little looser than Fred's.
Sally	posted 10/28/05 03:26 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly Dear Ken, I just bought your book on eBay, read it, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was so nice to get the view of someone who worked so closely with Bing. I was really able to see him as a human being. I loved the story about Bing buying shirts. I also loved all of the musicians going downstairs and clearing the record store of all of Bing's records. Thanks for a great read, Sally
Jim Kukura	posted 10/28/05 05:59 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly One quote I remeber from Phil Harris in one of those TV specials about Bing after his passing. I'm paraphrasing a little, but, Harris: "He would use words as long as from me to you. And he knew what they meant!"
Sally	posted 10/28/05 08:28 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly Dear Auburn, Another thing about the Fred Astaire interview is that I remember him saying that despite Bing's casual attitude, he worked really hard at dancing. I think he might have been talking about "Holiday Inn," and I remember him saying he was surprised because people had warned him that Bing was lazy and wouldn't work hard. But he said Bing showed up early, had on work out clothes and rehearsed as hard as anyone. Unfortunately, I cannot remember where the interview appeared. Sorry.
howard crosby	posted 10/29/05 10:26 AM Central Time (US) contact the author directly One of the greatest misconceptions out there is that Bing was "lazy." He was a pro. He showed up on time, knew his lines, knew his lyrics, worked hard on dance steps, which didn't come easy to him The music....well he only had to hear it one time and he NEVER forgot it, never missed a downbeat, never went off pitch, etc. So it usually didn't take more than one take unless the orchestra or the other singers made a mistake. And when that happened, when a young duet partner who was nervous didn't get it right, Bing would say: "You know, I think I messed that up. Can we try it again?" He never "messed up" a song.
jane s	posted 10/29/05 03:28 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly Sally, I am not sure what happened to my posting, but I wanted to say that I think the comments you remember were in reference to "A Couple Of Song and Dance Men" from Blue Skies. I remember reading about how hard Bing worked and came in early to rehearse the dance for weeks before they shot the number.
Dieter Beier	posted 11/05/05 04:24 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly The Astaire quotation you can also read on Charles Thompson´s The Complete Crosby on chapter ten: "But he worked hard and we had a few steps designed so that we could do them together. At one time, people used to ask me who was my favourite dancing partner and in order to keep myself clear from picking one girl from another, with all the different girls that I worked with I always said my best dancing partner was Bing Crosby." "I had a million laughs with him, but he was a dedicated worker. He did it in his own quiet way;you didn´t realise he was working so hard. He was rather casual about a lot of things, but I think he gave it a lot more thought than that and always gave it a lot more thought than that." "Oh sure, he was very easy! He used to joke about it and he really practised to do a few steps, but he certainly wasn´t a dancer. I called him the kind of dancer that I am a singer."